Page 303 - Between One and Many The Art and Science of Public Speaking

270 Part 3 Putting Theory Into Practice

students used a cooking recipe to help students follow along. In another infor-
mative speech, we had a student describe fl y-fi shing for wild trout as analogous
to chasing butterfl ies with a net.
Our use of metaphor, simile, and analogy in speeches is limited only by our
imagination. What’s more, we can get ideas for their effective use from listening
to other speakers and from reading both fi ction and nonfi ction works.

Rhythmic Speech
Rhythm is part of the natural order. We often hear people speak about the
“rhythm of life” or the “rhythm of the season.” Perhaps this is the reason we
are so easily drawn to beating drums and chanting people. In any case, the best
speakers know that a speech needs rhythm every bit as much as does the DJ at
a dance club. To create rhythm, speakers commonly use alliteration, parallel
structure, repetition, and antithesis.
Alliteration is the repetition of the same initial sound in a series of words. Jesse
Jackson is famous for using alliteration to make his speeches more expressive
and memorable. Instead of saying, “People need to be given a purpose,” for ex-
ample, Jackson might say, “Empower people with pride, and purpose is sure to
follow.”
One of the most famous alliterations of American political history came from
former Vice President Spiro Agnew, who called his opponents in the media “nat-
tering nabobs of negativism.” The power of alliteration comes from the way it
sticks in audience members’ minds. The danger is that if the alliteration seems
forced, it may be memorable, but ineffective.
Parallel structure is the use of the same structure for each main point of the
speech. It provides a way to help the audience remember key points, and at the
same time it serves as a verbal cue that we are presenting a main point. For ex-
ample, when John F. Kennedy ran for president, he used the phrases “I am not
satisfi ed . . . we can do better” to highlight each of his major criticisms of the
Republican administration.
In developing a speech outline, look for a consistent refrain or phrase that can
serve as the touchstone for the structure of the speech. For example, a speech on
gang violence might be built around several main points that each begin, “We
can only stop gang violence if we all . . . .” The use of parallel structure helps
audiences anticipate the points to come and remember them when the speech is
over. However, be careful to use parallel structure that fi ts the speech. If not, it
will seem forced and artifi cial.
Repetition is the use of the same words repeatedly in a speech to drive home a
point. Unlike parallel structure, in which the same phrase is used only to build
each main point, repetition uses a word or phrase repeatedly throughout the
speech to emphasize the essential point that the speaker seeks to convey. If you
recall the speech by Barbara Jordan in the box on page 263, you will note that
the phrase “We, the people” is repeated three times in one short excerpt. The
theme of that speech is clearly conveyed by that one phrase, taken from the U.S.
Constitution.
antithesis
Antithesis involves the use of opposites. In addition to adding another
The use of opposites,
rhythmic element to a speech, language that links opposites can add intensity
e.g., light–dark.
and even urgency to a speech. History is replete with speeches that feature an-